His build earned him a nickname and a signature song, "Mr. Five by Five" ("he's five feet tall and he's five feet wide"). His best known recordings are probably those of "Going to Chicago" with Basie and "Harvard Blues" with the famous saxophone solo by Don Byas. George Frazier, author of "Harvard Blues", called Rushing's distinctive voice, "a magnificent gargle".
He died of leukemia in 1972 in New York City.
Careless Love
Jimmy Rushing Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've fly through my head like wine
You've wrecked the life of a many poor girl
And you nearly spoiled this life of mine
Love, oh love, oh careless love
In your clutches of desire
You've made me break a many true vow
Love, oh love, oh careless love
All my happiness bereft
You've filled my heart with weary old blues
Now I'm walkin', talkin' to myself
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Trusted you now, it's too late
You've made me throw my old friend down
That's why I sing this song of hate
Love, oh love, oh careless love
Night and day, I weep and moan
You brought the wrong man into this life of mine
For my sins, till judgment I'll atone
The lyrics to the song "Careless Love," performed by Jimmy Rushing, are a lamentation for the destructive power of love. Rushing describes love as flying through his head like wine, and wrecking the lives of many poor girls. He laments that love has caused him to break many true vows and has set his soul on fire. Love has left him bereft of happiness and filled his heart with weary old blues, causing him to walk and talk to himself. He trusted love when it was too late, and it made him throw his old friends down. Rushing sings this song of hate because love has brought the wrong man into his life, and he will have to atone for his sins until judgment day.
The lyrics of "Careless Love" are written in the blues tradition and speak to the universal human experience of love and heartbreak. Rushing's soulful voice conveys the pain and longing behind the words. The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including Bessie Smith, Ray Charles, and Janis Joplin. It remains a classic of the blues genre and continues to resonate with listeners today.
Line by Line Meaning
Love, oh love, oh careless love
The singer is addressing love, personifying it as careless and irresponsible.
You've fly through my head like wine
Love has consumed the singer's thoughts and feelings like wine, causing a sort of intoxication.
You've wrecked the life of a many poor girl
Love has ruined the lives of many women, causing them to suffer greatly.
And you nearly spoiled this life of mine
Love almost ruined the artist's own life as well.
In your clutches of desire
The artist is describing love as a force that takes hold of a person and compels them to act on their desires.
You've made me break a many true vow
Love has caused the singer to betray their promises and commitments.
Then you set my very soul on fire
Love has ignited an intense passion within the singer that cannot be quenched.
All my happiness bereft
Love has robbed the artist of all their joy and contentment.
You've filled my heart with weary old blues
Love has caused the artist to feel a deep sense of sadness and melancholy.
Now I'm walkin', talkin' to myself
The artist is describing their own emotional distress and the feeling of being isolated and alone in their pain.
Trusted you now, it's too late
The singer has placed their trust in love and now realizes that it was a mistake they cannot rectify.
You've made me throw my old friend down
Love has caused the artist to betray their own friends and loved ones.
That's why I sing this song of hate
The singer is expressing their frustration and anger towards love.
Night and day, I weep and moan
The singer is suffering deeply as they cannot escape the torment caused by love.
You brought the wrong man into this life of mine
Love has introduced the singer to someone who is not a good match for them, causing them to suffer further.
For my sins, till judgment I'll atone
The artist feels that they are being punished by a higher power for their mistakes, and will continue to suffer until they are judged.
Lyrics © HANDY BROTHERS MUSIC CO.,INC.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind